Method of and apparatus for the remote verification of checks



R. B. SMITH METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE REMOTE VERIFICATION OF CHECKS 2 sheets-sheet 1 v A Filed March 24, 1941 SePt- 1 1942 y R. B. sMlTH 2,294,809

METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FOR THE REMOTE VERIFICATION oF CHECKS Filed March 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .s E'oalbz E ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 1, 1942 ICE METHOD F AND APPARATUS FOR THE REMOTE VERIFICATION 0F CHECKS Ronald B. Smith, East Orange, N. J.

, Application March 24, 1941, Serial No. 385,625

8 Claims. (Cl. TIS-6.7)

This invention relates to the positive verification of checks by a person at a location remote therefrom and has for its principal objects the provision of a simple, convenient and effective method for accomplishing such objects as well as an economical, compact, sturdy and eicient apparatus wherein such method can be accom-V corresponding places on the original document.

However, such a communication or check system not only requires the employment of expensive telautograph equipment together with the television mechanism, but also necessitates the direct application of words or characters to the original document to be checked with the consequent mutilation thereof to that extent and such direct application of characters or words to such document may often be highly objectionable. Furthermore, particularly in the case of checks which are often merely in transit through a bank, there is no permanent record made which can be retained by the bank to denitely show the nature of the report on such document that was made by the member of the bank stal to whom the visible image of the check in such second location has `been submitted.

My investigations have led to the discovery of a unique method and apparatus for the remote verification of checks, whereby not only it is possible without defacement or mutilation of the check, for a bookkeeper or other individual in charge of the depositors accounts in a bank to Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail front elevation of the single revolution clutch element employed in such apparatus, isolated; and

Fig. 3 is a dean from elevation of' the ratchet device in the gear train of the film moving mechanism of the camera.

My invention possesses various advantages some of which are featured in the following description of the construction and operation of such preferredembodiment ofan apparatus for the remote verification of checks, notes or similar documents. It is, of course, to be understood, however that my method may be performed in other apparatus than th'e preferred embodiment disclosed herein and that I do not limit myself to such apparatus, as various other embodiments thereof within the scope'of the appended claims are also within the spirit of my invention. In order, however, that the -broader aspects of my invention may be understood, I shall now proceed to describesuch preferred embodiment.

Referring to the drawings and the construction shown therein, the reference numeral I designates a holder or rack having a slot 2 at the rear of a transparent front panel for the reception of a check 3, ,the image of which is to be electrically transmitted by television to a remote location for verification' purposes.y The base 4 of said rack has an illumination' chamber 5 formed therein which is'closed at the front by transparent windows 6 and 1 behind which are mounted electriclight bulbs 8 and 8 respectively. The latter serve to illuminate stencils good and bad which are applied to may be photographed simultaneously' with the expeditiously investigate and report on a check v following decheck under investigation.

The reference numeral I2 designates the television transmitter or so-called pick-up," the same being of conventional construction and I3 I5 toward the front thereof, desirably'at'an y'anglerof about 45 to the horizontal and serving to-'re' flect to the bookkeeper or other observer an upright image of the inverted image received by the screen I5. A cable Il serves to electricallyv hook-up the television transmitter and receiver in the well known manner.

- The housing 20 encases an automatic recording' camera and the controlling mechanism thereof, said camera preferably being of the type commonly used by commercial photographers for photographing documents. The camera lens 2| projects outside said housing and is controlled by a shutter 22 that is operatively connected with the controlling mechanism mounted within said housing. A sensitized strip of film 23, for example, the standard 16 mm. movie film, is mounted on a reel 24 and the same is threaded through a gate 25 and thence passes over the take-up reel 26, being supported at intermediate points by idler rolls in the customary manner. A sprocket wheel 21, the teeth of which engage marginal perforations on the nlm, serves to automatically feed the film step-by-step in consonance with the rotation of the associated gear train, hereinafter described.

An electric motor 30, acting through reduction gearing comprising a worm carried on its shaft, a cooperating worm gear 3| carried on an associated shaft 32 actuates, through friction drive 33, a crank shaft 34 on which is mounted a single revolution clutch plate 35. The latter has a pin 36 adjacent the periphery thereof that cooperates with a lug 31' carried by the armature 33 of the solenoid of the clutch control mechanism. Said armature is retracted while the electro- `magnet 39 is energized, in the manner hereinafter explained, and normally is held in its uppermost .position as illustrated in Fig. 1 by the spring 40. The stroke of the armature 33 is adjusted by means of a knob 4|.

The crank shaft 34 has a crank 45 on which is mounted a pawl 46 that is normally Aforced by a spring 41 into engagement with a ratchet 40, which is xedly mounted on shaft 49 as is also a bevel crown gear 50. The latter gear meshes with a cooperating pinion carried on the end of a pinion shaft 52 which also has a pinion 53 mounted on its opposite end that meshes with a cooperating bevel gear carried by shaft of the aforesaid driving sprocket 21 and rotatable with said sprocket so that when said pinion shaft is rotated the sprocket is correspondingly rotated.

A disc 55 is rigidly pinned to the end of the crank shaft 34, the same having an eccentrically disposed driving pin 56 positioned adjacent the periphery thereof and a link 51 is connected to said pin and to the shutter operating lever 53.

Adjacent the aforesaid housing 20, is mounted a housing 60 which. contains the time switch or -for example when the armature 61 rises sumciently to cause detent 1| to strike arm 62, due to the action of tensionspring 63, the toggle 'switch will open, thus shutting off the television receiving and transmitting sets, the light 30, the motor 30 ,and the signal light 9|.

' The check 3 when positioned in the frame I is normally illuminated by the electric lamp I0. A separate monitor light 9| serves as a signal to indicate t0 the bookkeeper that the apparatus is energized. The buzzer 92, operated by the paying teller through the common push button control 95, serves to transmit an audible signal to the bookkeeper that a check is in petition to be verified by the latter. Push button controls 96, 96 operated by the bookkeeper, serve rto illuminate the light 3 and 9 behind the good stencil 6 Iand bad stencil 1, respectively.

The main circuit, which isk designated by the reference numeral |00, desirably A. C. 110-120 volts circuit, is provided with a circuit breaker switch 0|; and a primary or step-down transformer |02, interposed in this high voltage circuit, serves to supply low voltage current tothe other side of the high voltage supply line |09 is connected through the lead to the lights 30,

` 9|, motor 30, television transmitter |2 and redelaying shut-off mechanism, the same comprising a toggle-switch contact arm 6| to which is pivoted a detent arm 62 that is elastically mounted so as to be snapped to an on position shown in Fig. 1 or an off position (not shown) according to Whether the solenoid 65 is energized ceiver |4 and the toggle switch serves theI circuit therethrough.

'I'he various leads from the high voltage circuit to the various parts of the apparatus supplied thereby, are designated as follows, ||2, ||3 the motor leads; I4, I5 the television transmitter leads; ||6 and ||1 the leads of the bookkeepers signal light; and III, I9 the television receiver leads.

Solenoids |23, |23' are interposed in the low voltage circuits represented by the conductors |05, |24, |25, |26 and |06 and conductors lll, |24', |25', |26 and |06, which circuits are respectively controlled-by the push buttons 36 and 96'.

The armatures |30 and |30' are elastically mounted and normally, if not locked by the cooperating detents, tend to assume an oiTposition with respect to the associated contacts |3| and |3|'.

'I'he conductors |33 and |34 serve to connect one side of the coil of relay 39 to the low voltage line |05 while the conductors |35, |36 and |31 interconnect the coil of relay 32 in parallel with the circuit of the coil of relay 39 and with conductors |33 -and |33, the latter being connected through wire |39 with contact |3| and through wire |39 with contact |3|'. The contacts |3| and |3| when in engagement with their cooperating armatures |30 and I 30' serve to close the to control l circuits through the filament of one of the lamps 1 being an intermediate one. An adjusting element or stop member 69 serves to regulate the position of the armature within the solenoid or I 9 and 9 which are respectively interposed in low voltage circuits |40, |4| and |40 and |4|' and which circuits are controlled by the bookkeeper by means of the said push buttons'93, 96'.

Upon consideration.of Fig. 2, it will be observed that the double lug 31 on armature 33 has a short rear leg and a relatively long crooked or angular front leg and which legsl are periodically interposed in the pathsof the opposite ends of the pin 36 and thereby limit the periodic movements of the disc to one complete revolution each, all for the purposes hereinafter set forth.

The numerals |50. |50' designate the solenoids respectively controlling the said lament circuits of lamps 8 and 9 and the armatures |5I, |5I' of these solenoids have terminal linger pieces |52, |52' which permit of the manual release of such armatures by the teller after the desired information has been flashed by the bookkeeper, as hereinafter explained, on the panels 6 or 1. The coils on said solenoids |50, |50 are connected by conductors |53, |54 and |53', |54' in parallel into the low voltage circuit, -comprisingconductors |04, |06, switch 95, conductor |03 and the secondary coil of the transformer |02.

The operation of verifying a document in the above described apparatus is as follows:

The teller of a bank desiring to verify a check or promissory note, for example, through its bookkeeping department, inserts the document in rack and presses the push button 95. Then, assuming the supply switch is closed as is the case during the usual banking hours, the following sequence of operations occurs:

(1) Detent |5|, constituting the amature of solenoid |50, will be instantly retracted toward the core of said solenoid since the circuit through the coil of the solenoid will have been closed by such depression of the push button, and thereby such detent |5| will be released from its normal engagement, with the armature |30 of the good relay |23.

good" or bad" ,and then presses the appropriate button, viz, the button 96 for good and (2) The circuit through buzzer 92 having also been closed by the depression of said button 95, the said buzzer will audibly attract the attention of the bookkeeper.

(3) The circuit through the coil of the solenoid 65 will likewise be closed by such depression of the push button and the armature 61 thereof will be attracted toward the coil of the solenoid against the action of the spring 68, such movement of the armature throwing the toggle switch 6| into the closed position shown in Fig. 1, therebybridging the gap between the terminals 53 and 64 and closing the circuit through the conductor' |09, ||0 and lamp 90. The latter circuit being energized,v the lamp 90 will be lighted and will illuminate the check so mounted in said rack while at the same time the circuits of the television transmitter I2 and receiver I4 will be energized through the respective leads H4, H5 and |8, ||9 from such circuit. Likewise such closing of the switch 6| energizes the circuit of the motor 30 through the circuit leads ||2 and ||3 and also effects the illumination of monitor lamp 8| in the bookkeepers department through circuitv leads ||6 and ||1. The armature 61 will be locked in a depressed or lowermost position by the detent 83 which automatically engages the tooth 84 as the latter passes beneath the shoulder of such detent and thereby all of the above circuits will continue to be energized so long as the vtoggle switch 6| remains closed even though the teller has released the push button 95. The television image of the check 3 will now be registered in the television receiver and can be studied by the bookkeeper by observing such image in the mirror |6, which is preferably hooded (not shown) to exclude extraneous light.

(fi) After the bookkeeper has viewed the check, he rst consults his ledger, statement or other records to ascertain whether the same is 86' for ",bad. Assuming he depresses the button 36, then the circuit will be closed through the relay |30, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the same will be held in a closed .position by the detent |5| (since the circuit through the solenoid |50 will lhave been re-opened the moment the teller released the pressure on push button due to the action of the spring which normally maintains such armature in an elevated position. 'Ihe closing of the relay |30, also closes the circuit which includes the filament of the lamp l behind the good panel 6, the conductor lll, return conductor |40, armature |30, contact |3|, conductor |39conductor |38, the coil-of the magnet 39 and the coil of detent release magnet 82 (which two latter solenoids are coupled in parallel) and conductors |33, |05.

(5) This action by the bookkeeper, as visibly recorded Iby the stencil good on the illuminated panel in front of the lamp 8 and which panel is located at a level immediately below the bottom of slot 2 so-as to be within the field of focus of the camera,- also initiates the operationy of the single revolution clutch disc 35 since the short leg of bifurcated stop or legy 31 will be retracted out of the pathA of pin 36 and toward the coil 39 whose circuit wil1 then have become energized, thus leaving such disc 35 and crank 35 free to be rotated by the motor through a single revolution and untilthe other end of pin 36 strikes the long angular arm of said stop 3l. 'Ihe first half of the rotation of shaft 34, causes eccentric pin 55 to pull lever 51 and attached lever 58 downward to the position shown, thus causing shutter 22 to record a picture of check 3 and good panel 6 on a frame of lm- 23 at gate 25. `It may be noted that in Fig. 1 the disc 35 is shown in the position it assumes when such rst half revolution of shaft 34 has been completed, the associated parts being in appropriate positions to admit of the completion of such single revolution of the disc. The lm take-up reel 26 is driven by a reversing belt (not shown for clearness of illustration) -reeved over the hub of sprocket wheel 21. Immediately after such photograph of the check and of the stencil of the particular panel so illuminated is completed, the crank `45, as it continues through the last half of its revolution, acting through the pawl 46, ratchet gear 08 and sprocket wheel 21 operatively geared thereto as aforesaid, causes a new frame of illm to be movedinto position through the gate 25. The teller, if he so desires, may extinguish lamp 8 by touching the nger release |52 on the armature |5| thereby opening the lamp circuit or else may wait until he has inserted another check in the holder; then as he touches the button 95 to signal for a report on another check, the detent |5| will be retracted out of engagement with the armature |30 and likewise open the lamp circuit. .h

(6) If'thewbookkeeper concludes to report the check as bad, he presses button 96' which closes the circuit through the conductors |25', |25', |05 thereby energizing the relay |23' and closing the circuits through conductors |3|' |40', IM. and lamp 9, whereby the stencil "bad at the base of the check holders will be illuminated. Simultaneously the low voltage circuit through conductors |39', |38, the coil of solenoid 39 and detent release 82, hooked up in parallel verifying'but one or two checks.

side of the circuit H15. The solenoid 39 will control the operation of the single revolution clutch in the manner above described to permit of a photograph being made of the check under observation and of the illuminated stencil bad at the bottom of the holder and to automatically move a new frame offllm through the gate 25.

(7) The aforesaid depression by the bookkeeper of the push button 96, not only effects the operation of the single revolution clutch for the purpose just explained but also energizes the circuit of the coil 82 and thereby retracts the detent 83 from engagement with the tooth 84 of rack 61. The latter thereupon, under .the urge of spring 68, beginsto rise against the resistance offered by the gears 13, 15, 16 and 11, constituting the delaying-gear train, whose gear ratios are so calculated as to permit an elapsed interval of time sufiicient to admit of a reasonable waiting period between checks successivelyinserted by the teller in the viewing rack and verifled before the lug 1| on rack 61 will be permitted to strike the arm 62 of the toggle switch and open the latter and the various circuits controlled thereby, including that of the television transmitter and receiver, the lamps 80 and 9| and the motor 30. The aforesaid action of the delaying-gear train insures against any unnecessary waste of current in the event the apparatus lis not to be again immediately used after Such toggle switch, if open, will be instantly re-set in its closed position the moment the teller again depresses push button 95 preparatory to verifying another check in the manner aforesaid.

The position of the parts shown in Fig. 1, as previously stated, is an intermediate one, beim that assumed after the solenoid 65 has been deenergized and during the gradual return,

under the delaying action ofthe delaying-gear train of the rack 81, to its uppermost position under the influence of the spring 68.

My improved television system permits of the prompt verification of documents, such as a check for example, by the bookkeeping department oi a bank or other institution to which a facsimile image of such check has been transmitted by television from the cage of the paying teller, all without any possible defacement or mutilation of the check While at the same'time a permanent photographic record is made of the comprising a rst station having a television pick-up thereat, supporting means for a document positioned at the first station within the field of view of said pick-up device, a'second station remote from the first station, a television reproducing device located thereat, means for electrically interconnecting said television devices. signalling means associated with said document support, said signalling means having apanel normally ineffectual for conveying a desired message, respecting the character of the document so televised in said apparatus as determined by a' person at such second station and other means for rendering the signalling means effectual to indicate the character of such message.

A2. In a television apparatus, the combination comprising a rst station having a television pick-up thereat, supporting means for a document positioned within the eld of View of said pick-up device, a second station remote from the first station, a television reproducing device located thereat, means for electrically interconnecting said television devices, indicator means associated with saiddocument supporting means having a panel whereon pre-selected symbols are displayed which are normally ineffectual for conveying a message indicative of the character of check with the associated fleeting message symbols displayed immediately adjacent the margin thereof. Furthermore, a series of checks can be verified in rapid succession and a separate photograph obtained of each check and the associated fleeting message symbols indicative of the separate reports made thereon by the bookkeeper. The apparatus is portable, simple and economical to operate, essentially fool-proof, compact and the original cost and upkeep expense is relatively small.l

It is, of course, to be understood that the particular embodiment of my invention herein described is for the purpose of illustration and that my improved method may be performed in other apparatus and various modifications of the said preferred embodiment of the apparatus may be made, all without departing from the spirit of my invention as embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a television apparatus, the combination such document as ascertained by a. person at the second station, means operable from the second station for rendering said symbols effectual for.

conveying such a message and photographic means, including a shutter and means for automatically actuating the latter, for simultaneously photographing both' said panel while it is illuminated and also a document positioned on the associated supporting means.

3. In a television apparatus for viewing documents, the combination comprising a iirst station having a. television pick-up device associated connecting said television devices,l indicatormeans at the iirst station, controllable from the second station for temporarily displaying an image constituting pre-selected symbols indicative of the character of such document as ascer.

tained by a person at the second station and automatic means for simultaneously automatically photographing such document and such image while the latter is still visible.

4. In a television system for the verification oi documents, the sub-combination comprising an automatic camera having a lens and shutter, a document support, indicator means having symbols thereon which are not photographically reproducible unless said panel is illuminated, said panel being positioned within the field of said lens and remote-controlled means for illuminating said panel and for automatically actuating said shutter.

5. In a television apparatus for the verification of a document from a location remote therefrom without permanent defacement. or` mutilation thereof, the combination comprising a rst station having a, televising device thereat, an associated document support having the area thereof which is adapted to receive the document to be televised in the field of vision of said televising device, a second station remote from the rst station, a television reproducing device' located thereat, means for electrically interconnecting such television devices, signalling means immediately associated with but not on said area and having one or more symbols, normally undisplayed, indicative of a message respecting the character of such document as determined by a person at, such second station after inspection of a televised image of such document and means operatively controlled from the second station for displaying one or more of said symbols.

6. In a television apparatus for the verification of a document from a location remote therefrom withoutpermanent defacement or mutilation thereof, the combination comprising a rst station having a television televising device thereat, an associated document support having the area thereof which is adapted to receive the document to be televised in the field of vision of said televising device, a second station remote from the rst station, a television reproducing device located thereat. means for electrically interconnecting such television devices, signalling means immediately associated with said area and having one or more symbols, normally ineiectual, indicative of a message respecting the character of such document as determined by a person at such second station after inspection oi a televised image of such document, means operatively controlled from the second station for rendering the symbols on such signalling means effectual to indicate the character of such a message and automatic means for photographing the original document and such symbolic message associated therewith while the latter is still displayed.

'7. In a television apparatus as claimedin claim 3, wherein such automatic means Ofor simultaneously photographing the document and the temporarily displayed symbols includes a camera lens and shutter whose eld of vision substantially includes the area of the document support to be occupied by a document and such symbols, a rotatable shaft, disengageable means for con-v 8. In a television system for the remote verication of a document, the sub-combination comlprising a first station, a televising device thereat, a document support having an area for the reception thereon of a document to be televised which area is within the field of vision of said televising device, a second station remote from the rst station, a television reproducing device located thereat, means for electrically interconnecting such televising and television reproducing devices, means associated with said area of the document support and normally ineectual which is adapted under certain conditions to indicate a message, vtransmitted-by a, person at the second station, respecting the character of a document mounted on said support and reproduced by television at such second station, as determinedby said person at such second'station; and means for rendering saidvlast mentioned means eiectualv to indicate the character of such a message so transmitted from said second station.

RONALD B. SMITH. 

